Giles

I've been back on that side of Olympus. There is still much wreckage at the toe of the Humes. We didn't see anything large tho, just relatively small pieces all over.

Folks tend to have their own wants and needs when it comes to these things... But my favorite (and I've used many different packs of this size over the years) is the Patagonia Linked 16. Here are my reasons - - I like that it has a rope strap on the top - I like that it has an outside zip pocket - The shape is is not as long as some other packs of this size so it doesn't hang too low (of particular importance if you, or your partner, is small/short) - durable - great size for long rock routes. We generally use it as a followers pack and it fits shoes, food, water, insulating layer, perfectly for two.

Thanks for the great TR - Alaska Range climbing is so beautiful. Out of curiosity what camera were you using?

YES

Trip: Dragontail Peak - Gerber-Sink Date: 3/2/2015 Trip Report: On Monday my partner and I had a fantastic day of climbing the Gerber-Sink on Dragontail Peak. Like all winter climbing, conditions mean everything and currently conditions are excellent(!). We left the car at 3am and were roped up by 9am at the initial rock band. Lots of ice/neve filled runnels and short mixed chokes separated by sections of snow climbing made for great simul-climbing most of the way. We took 6hrs on route. Eric leading the final pitch of the Gerber-Sink Lots of great alpine ice currently (and a dusting of snow) Gear Notes: We took single rack BD .3-2, a Metolius blue TCU, 3 pins, 3 ice screws (one 10cm, two 13cm), and several small nuts. Small cams very useful (perhaps bring a purple TCU also), in current conditions another ice screw would have been nice on the longer simul-climbing pitches. Approach Notes: Road to summer TH is currently 1/2 dirt 1/2 snow. We brought skis with Silverettas for the road and found them useful despite having to carry them a couple miles. Trail is very packed out making for easy hiking.

Hahaha I remember when you first started to aid climb a lot you said to me "Cam hooks are the best thing ever."

Yes Keenan! I had such a great time reading this TR. Your stoke always inspires me!! Bummed we missed you on the Tok, it would have been fun to catch up. The Harvard was in fantastic shape indeed. -Chris

YEAH! Molly and I were so stoked for you buddy! i came and checked on you after the first big storm rolled in. you looked cozy up there. driest campsite in the valley most likely. Still slingin milkshakes?

YEAH! Molly and I were so stoked for you buddy! i came and checked on you after the first big storm rolled in. you looked cozy up there. driest campsite in the valley most likely. Still slingin milkshakes?

My girlfriend and I are moving out to Bozeman from Seattle for the winter. We're aiming to be in Bozeman from Jan 1 - April(ish). If you happen to have any leads of an available sublet during that time we'd loooove to know about it. Much appreciated. Chris

Can't compare to the punishers sorry.

I used the Rab Latoks for about 35 days of ice climbing and a bit of alpine this winter. The palm texture on the thumb has worn off but that's likely because I'm too lazy to switch gloves when I belay. They were plenty warm enough, dry, they have great wrist cuffs and are very dexterous.

I second BigSky's recommendation. While the HMG ice pack has a couple small issues (i dislike the crampon attachment setup), it is exceptionally comfortable, light, simple. A great pack from a super tiny company.

Looking to head to banks from seattle sometime during Sunday Monday Tuesday this week. Been warmish getting cooler, any up to the day condition comments? Been in hyalite and Cody for a couple weeks and back in Seattle for a few weeks and banks seems the best bet for local (sorta...) ice. I'd appriciate any input. Never been. Thanks a bunch! Chris

use a bit of tape. more than anything it reminds you to be gentle. most importantly remember that the gym can easily wreck your body. Don't over train. Consider spending an entire gym session just traversing on big friendly holds to work up endurance and fitness. good luck! stay healthy

I've been dealing lately with a burning numbness in my hand (usually the back of the hand, but not always?) and forearm that seems like a ache radiating from the inside side (medial?) of my elbow. on days it flairs up it wakes me up in the morning. It always hurts in the morning as I'm waking up, and rarely do i get numbness at other times, although sometimes when typing or writing. The elbow is a very very dull slight ache the rest of the day. maybe I'm sleeping on it weird? I'm 80% sure that i developed this problem from excessive use of a ratchet wrench at work (the problem is in my right arm which i use). I've stopped using a wrench and this has helped but it seems to be a nagging issue... I don't tend to notice any pain or numbness while climbing, especially if i warm up well. I'm wary of developing a chronic issue, and the numbness aspect worries me. Nerves? Sorry to hear about your pain. Here's to healing. Chris

this may not be relevant at all (i'm not a doctor, nor do i know my knee anatomy...) but i dislocated my knee bouldering and was TRing within a month and leading soon after on easier routes. i stayed away from bouldering for a while due to the whole falling thing though... no surgery, no PT, (but my mom is a PT and gave me some basic things to do). besides my MRI and other related doctor visits i never returned to the doctors and i recovered relatively fully. I'm young, and i think that helped a lot in my recovery, but i do regret not taking PT more seriously... i alpine climb / crag regularly in WA and boulder/lead in the gym regularly and ice climb during season, but within all of these realms i experience minor discomfort and pain. my knee dislike dropping from high boulder walls. my knee dislikes the long pain-in-the-ass hikes out that are more or less universally a part of cascade alpine climbing. my knee dislikes long days of front pointing on ice. my knee dislikes drop knees while sport climbing. my knees dislikes snowboarding for more than a few hours. the moral of the story is that ultimately your knees are critical to almost all the facets of outdoor life we love, and we owe it to ourselves to take care of them. I was (and still am) young, and rushed treatment and PT thinking it would be alright, and i may be paying the price for years to come. take your time, take PT seriously, and understand that knee pain/discomfort may always be a part of your active life, but that it'll be alright anyway, and wont hold you back. good luck, be healthy!